Apparatus for automatically closing and locking safe doors



March 4, 1930. c. F. WOLTERS ET AL 1,749,203

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING AND LOCKING SAFE DOORS Filed March 5. 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTOJ A TTORNE Y.

March 4, 1930. c. F. WOLTERS ET AL 1,749,203

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING AND LOCKING SAFE DOORS M ATTORJVEVQ March 4, 1930. c. F. WOLTERS tsr Ax.

AZPARATS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING AND LOCKING SAFE DOORS Filed March 5, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventors.'

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.March 4, 1930. C, F, WOLTERS ET AL 1,749,203

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING AND LOCKING SAFE DooRs Filed March 5. 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 4, 1930. c. F. WOLTERS Er AL 1,749,203

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMANOALLY OLOSING AND LOOKING SAFE DOORS Filed March 5. 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNE YS.

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APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING AND LOCKING SAFE DOORS Filed March 5. 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Z0; A TTORNEYs.

8 Sheets-Sheet 7 C. F. WOLTERS ET Al.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING AND LOCKING SAFE DOORS Filed March 5.' 1925 March 4, 1930.

25u/LA TTORNE Ys.

f 4March-4, 1930.

c. F. WOLTERS x-:T Ax. 1,749,203

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING AND LOCKING SAFE DOORS Filed March 5. 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Wan-ATTORNEY?.

Patented Mar. 4, 1930 UNITE STATES FATENT @FF-ICE CARL F. WOLTERS AND CHARLES SI-ULTE, 0F MARTETTA, (EI-EO, ASSTGNORS, BY MESNE ASES'GNMENTS, TO RTJMTNGTUN RAND ENC., GF NEW' IGR-K, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F DELAVIARE APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATCALLY CLOSING AND LGCKING SAFE DOORS Application filed March 5, 1925.

rlhis invention relates to an appara-tus for closing the door or doors ot a suie in the event of tire. .Safes are usually provided with one or more doors Which stand open when is being),` had to the interior of the sate. Th doors usually remain open 'during busI hours. It is important that, in the event oil lire, means should he provided for automatically closing the doors of a s 'te in the absence of an attendant Whose duty it would he to close such doors. t

access In the coniusio cident to an alarm ot' tire, the doors ot a safe are liable to be left open and the contents posed to lire hazard.

One purpose of this invention is, there`v fore, to provide means for closing the doors of a sate or strong boxv either automatic: @y upon the occcurrenceof a lire in its neighbor hood, or upon the soundingl of a general lire alarm; or in the course of the operation ot a tire alarm system. The double doors must not however be closed simultaneously, hut successively and in a given order. The release of the right-hand door, must he ceded hy the closing of the lett, or the pio jecting parts associated with the rigghthand door Will prevent the closing` ot the letthand one,a'nd the result will be the same as though neither had heen released. Means are there` tore provided to bring` the left-hand door into a closed and locked position prior to the release of the right-hand door.

It is further proposed in the structure Which embodies this invention to provide such a system of locking-'bolts and operating mechanism that the looking,- bolts will he pro` jected at the moment the door reaches the closed position, regardless or" Whether t closing of the door occurs auton'iatically or manually. By this system, the bolts are retained in a Withdrawn position so long as the respective door is open; hut are released automatically at closing when in a posi? i to register With and enter their allotted seche-ts in the Jframe.

Another point of operation ot such a tem is that the doors should he locked t ly, so that it the safe falls by rec son o lapsing floors, the contents will not become exposed to flame or Water.

Serial No. 13,15 5.

In the provision ot a tliermostatica'lly operated apparatus to control and determine the actuation oiE the door closing mechanism,

it has further heen provided' that a l`gradual rise or temperature in and around the safe shall not cause a release of the doors; but hv the application of a device to be hereinafter referred to as a rate of rise control, the mechanism is only set into movement upon an abnormally rapid increase of temperature.

A further feature ot this invention is the employment of a mechanism operated hy the closure of the right-hand door to restore the releasing mechanism to its normal initial position, and rea-dy for operation Without manual setting. T his is essential to prevent an inexperienced or negligent attendant .trom leaving; the apparatus in a. condition in which it cannot automatically eliect the closing of the Another feature is the enclosure of all operative parts, except the door retainingdogs and certain operating` bolts and rods, With-- in a protective housing, to prevent tanfipeing` or accidental injury. The Wiiole system thus practically seit-contained save `for electrical connection to the tire alarm system which in itself is not an indispensable ele. nient.

Hereinafter such a safe with double door will he considered as having the right-haut door to he closed last, but this 4relation is merely for convenience in setting' 'forth the invention, and may he varied Without depart ine` from its spirit.

For the purpose of engl-(lining this vinvention, ive have shown on the accon'ipanying` drawings one embodiment thereof in coniplement of the :following description.

Figure l is a perspective view -ot' a e equipp'd ivith the apparatus according to this ii vention;

Figure 2 a front vieiv showing` the locking means 'for the lett-hand door oi the salte ot' Figure l, With the other elements of the door and shown in phantom as dotted lines;

Figure 3 is co@responding` view of the mechanism for the right-hand door;

yl a vieiv on a larger scale showing the locking and releasing mechanism for the right-hand door, as seen from the inner side of the door;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view through the knob shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view showing the locking bolt and the corresponding socket;

Figure 8 is a face view of the end of the locking bolt;

Figure 9 is a detail view showing a retainin dog;

igure 10 is a sectional view showing the assemblage of the ldoor releasing mechanism in the normal position;

Figure 11 is a corresponding View, with the elements in the releasing position;

Figure 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a section on the line.13-l3 of Figure 1() and showing the elements in the normal position;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 (and a section on line 1414 of Figure 11) but showing the elements in the operated position;

Figure 15 is a horizontal section showing the relation of the diaphragm, pin and detent;

Figure 16 is a cross section on the line 16-16 of Figures 10 and 11, showing the flag cam, and

Figure 17 is a section on the line 17 -17 of Fi re 11.

he safe is represented as comprising the usual box 1 (Fig. 1) having strongly constructed and fireproof walls on five sides and an open front. This front is formed with appropriate grooves and ribs to receive the correspondingly shaped doors 2 and 3. Since, in general, the conformation of such doors and walls to accommodate each other s old and well known, and forms no part of our invention, we shall not describe it further than to state that its purpose is to provide a gas and water-tight joint for the closure. The doors are hingedly mounted upon the box 1 by means of the hinge elements 4, 4 and 5, 5, shown in Figures 2 and 3. These hinges are provided with springs 6, 6 and 7, 7 of sufficient strength to close the doors upon release of any obstructions to the free movement of these doors.

When opened, the doors may be held in a fully opened position by means of the dogs 8 and 9 which are received in cavities 10 in the upper edges of the respective doors, as shown in detail in Figure 9. The left-hand door 2 is provided with an operating shaft 11 passing horizontally through the face thereof. This shaft bears, on the outer face `of the door, a turning handle 12 shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. On the inner face of the door or in the space within the walls, this shaft 11 carries rigidly attached thereto an operating plate 13 which has an arm 14 formed integrally therewith to receive one end of a helical spring 15. The other end of the helical spring 15 is attached to the door 2 at 16. It will, therefore, be seen that the spring 1.5 constantly tends to rotate the plate 13 and therewith the shaft 11 in a counter-clockwise direction in Figure 2.

Pivoted to the plate 13 at points 17, 17 are two link arms 18, 18 which are articulated to the links 19, 19 and thereby serve as operating means for the locking bolts 20, 2O for the left-hand door 2. These locking bolts 20, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, each have an anti-friction roller 2l rotatably mounted in their bifurcated outer ends. The locking bolts 20 and their rollers 21 are adapted to be received within the sockets 22 provided for that purpose in the main box 1.

The tendency of the sprin 15 is to rotate the plate 13 and to project t e bolts 20 into the extended or operative position. On one connecting link 18 is provided a lug 23 which extends at right angles to the face of the link and into the path of a detent 24 which latter is pivoted at 25 to the door 2. The detent 24 is formed with a notch 26 at a predetermined distance from the pivot point 25. An operating member 27 is pivoted to the detent 24 at 26 and passes through a suitable channel in the door 2 to the hinge side of the door, and its end 28 projects a slight distance therefrom. A spring 29 is carried by a pin 30, and has its free end 31 in such relation to the detent 24 that the latter is urged against the lug 23.

lVhen the left-hand door 2 is in the closed position, and the locking bolts 20, 20 are extended into the pockets 22, 22 in the box 1, a person may rotate the handle 12 clockwise in Figure 2, thus rotating the plate 13 and retracting the links 18, 18 and 19, 19, and therewith the locking bolts 20, 20. During the movement of the connectin links 18, the lug 23 moves downward along t e face of the detent 24, until it comes opposite the notch 26 formed therein. The s ring 29 then forces detent 24 to the left as t ie door is opened; and this detent thus locks the connecting link 18 and therewith the plate 13 against a return movement under the influence of the spring 15. This locking continues so long as the detent 24 is not released.

If the door be closed, either manually or b the springs 6, 6, the outer end 28 of the rod 2 will come into contact with the box wall 1, and be moved to the right in Figure 2. The detent 24 articulated to the rod 27 is thereby forced to rotate about the pivot point 25 a sufficient distance so that the lug 23 is released from the notch 26, and the pliite is permitted to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction under the influence of the spring 15.

It is apparent that this release by the detent only occurs at or `near the closed positionot' theldoior,v andthat the bolts E20, Q0 are projected into the sockets 22,122 intended to receive them.

The right-handdoo-r 3 `is Aprovided with a similar sha'lt and plate 13a which is adapted, in like manner and by like means, to control the connecting links 18,` 18a, 18", the links 19a, 1921,*and the locking bolts 20, 2O- 1t will be notedthatwith .the right-hand door, an additionall locking .bolt 201 is provided-to lock the two doors, withrespect toeachother'. The plate 13a is under the infiuence of a spring 15a tendingconstantly to rotate it in a clockwise direction in F igure'4. 1n a manner similar to that describedin connection with Figure 2, this plate is held against such rotation b v a lug 23t'formed on the upper connecting link 18(L and operatingin conjunction with the detent: member Q4a having the notch 26 formed on its edge. For door 3, the notchl has a rectangular bottom` and a partly beveled locking surface'as shown :at 2Gb. A rod 21u is ypivotally connected'to the detent 24 and has its outer end 28a extending beyond the hinge `side of the door. So far, the elements are similarito and operate in the same manner as the corresponding elements described and shownfor the; leftfhand door 2, except that detent 2411need only be-moved fary enough to the rightfor the lug 23a to begin to ride on the beveled surface 26, whereupon thespring 15a willLcomplete the `removal of the detent 24a from the path of'lug 23a.

The-plate 13LL has a notch 32 provided at suchanposition ythatthe locking bolt 33 of a combination lock 84 may be projected into the notch to prevent'the clockwise rotation ot the vplate 13a. The method of operating the combination lock may be any ot the well known means, such as the graduated knob on the outer 'face of-the door and shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

InKFi'gure 4, .the operating mechanism is shown from the opposite side and the guard or stiifening plate 3G on the interior tace of the door lhasA been shown broken away to display the elements of the mechanism. The detent 24a has .the notch 26 as shown,and also a notch 37 near its upper end, and in such a position as to lockv the upper connecting link 183- against downward movement after it has once been projected upward. This notch'need not be so deep as'notch 26a, since the detent 24 is'prevented from entire return 'byl theengagement of rod 27 against the door frame;l The detent 24a is likewise provided with a spring 29 mounted on a stud 30 ony the door 3, and having its free end 311L in such vrelation-to the detent 24a aste urge the upperwend ofthe latter into engagement with the lug 23u. As shown in Fig.. 5, the detent 24a is pivotally mounted t 25a to the plate 36 or any other suitable part ot the door. This detent may move by rotation about the pivot 25a in aplane parallel to the face of the door, andlit :also has the possibility of movement in a plane perpendicular to the tace of the door by reason of the looseness of the pivot 25. The twoend-positions which it may occupy in this latter movement are shown respectively in full and dotted lines in Figure 5. 1t will be understood that', when the connecting links 18@ have been projected and thedoor locked, the detent Q4 moves into a position beneath the lug 23a and prevents the retraction ot the connecting links 18, 18" by a rotation ofthe plate 13a. 1n order to make it possible for a person to open the door again from the exterior by means ot the handle 12, the latter isiprovided with an axially extending pin 38 which passes through the axis oin4 the operating shaft-11a and projects beyond the rear tace ot the plate 13a into engagement with the detent 24a. As shown in Figure 6, a button 39Vis provided in a borehole cut into the stemvof the handle 12 and is adapted to make a movementin this hole parallel to the face of the door 3. A pin 40 iormed integrally with the button 39 has an inclined cam surface 41 formed thereon for engagement with the correspondingl end of the pin 38. A movement of the button 39 toward the lett in F igurel 6, will cause a movement of the pin 38 to the left in Figure 5. The lug 42 on the pin 40 prevents an extraction ot the button 39' without the dismounting of thepin 88. A flat/spring 48 is secured to the stilening plate 36 and assists the return of the detent 24 from the dotted line tothe full line position in Figure 5; and likewise serves as a return spring for the button 89,

The method of operation oi this portion or" the device is as follows: 1f a person desires to open the safe when the locking bolts have been projected and the combination lock has been withdrawn, the button 89 is forced to the left in Figure 6, thus moving the pin 38 to the lett in Figure 5, and pushing the detent Q4n against the action of spring 43 into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, in which itno longer is in engagement with the lug Q3 to prevent the movement downward of the connecting link 1812 The handle 12SL may now be turned to rotate the plate 13 in a counter-clockwise direction in Figure 4, thus retracting the connecting links 18n and therewith the locking bolts, already set forth in regard to Figure 2. Upon release of the button 89, the pin 38 returns and therewith the detent 24a. The lug Q3 is again received within the notch Q6, and the locking bolts are held in the -retracted position and the plate 13TL is prevented troni rotation under the influence of springln. It will be noted that if the door be not opened, thelug 23a will either ride`under the detent Q4 or against its beveled surface 26", and

the locking bolts 20, 20b will be projected; in other words, the door is always locked when closed, and it is not necessary to try the handle.

If the door be now closed, the rod 27 will be forced towards the right in Figure 4, by the engagement of its outer end 28a with the wall of box 1. The detent 24a will be rocked towards the right in Figure 4, thus releasing the lug 23a from the notch 26, and permitting the loekin bolts to be projected under the influence o spring a. After the bolts have reached their projected position, the detent 24a again moves to the left under the action of spring 29, and the lug 23a will be held by the surface 37 of the detent 24a as at the beginning.

At the top of the box 1 is provided a housing for the releasing mechanism for the safe doors. As shown in Figure 10, this housing is hollow, and contains the several elements to be hereinafter enumerated. On the outer face of this housing as shown in Figure 13 is a hermetically sealed metal chamber 51 with its front face exposed to the air of the room, and having a pipe 52 in communication therewith. This pipe 52 is connected to a rate of rise regulator 53 which will be more closely described here-nathan A second tube 54 leads from this regulator to a chamber 55 which has a diaphragm 56 tensed across the same. The diaphra m chamber 55, the pipes 52 and 54, and the c amber 51 therefore` form a closed system, subject to the adjustV ment by the regulator 53.

This rate of rise regulator 53 contains an element which permits the passage of a fluid at a certain specified maximum rate, such for example. as shown in United States Patents No. 1,208,177 to E. A. Lowe, dated December 12, 1916; No. 1,269,556 to E. A. Lowe, dated June 11, 1918; No. 1,303,082 to E. A. Lowe, dated Ma 6, 1919; No. 1,401,914 to E. A. Lowe. dated ecember 27, 1921; No. 1.404,534 to E. A. Lowe, dated January 24, 1922. If the temperature within the room in which the safe is contained rises slowly due to heating from a. radiator or by reason of the diurnal or seasonal variations, as represented by the wavy arrow in Figure 13, the expansion of the fluid in chamber 51 occasioned thereby will be relieved through the regulator 53, as denoted by the similar arrow. If, however, the temperature rise occurs at a greater rate, say five times as rapidly, as denoted by the five wavy arrows in Figure 14, the expansion within the chamber 51 is no longer compensated by the regulator 53 as denoted by thesingle wavy arrow issuing from the regulator 53 in Figure 14. The compression of the fluid within the enclosed system heretofore described therefore causes the diaphragm 56 to be distended and to be moved toward the left, as shown in Figure 14. This diaphragm 56, in its movement, bears against the pin 57 slidably mounted in the cover 58 for the diaphragm housing 55. The pin in its movement, as shown in detail in Figure 15, forces a detent member 59 outward and releases a pin 60 which had theretofore been retained by a hole 61 in the detent member 59. This pin 60 is mounted on the upper end of a weighted crank lever 62 (Figs. 10 and 11) pivoted to the housing 50 at 63 and having on its lower face a projection 64. The pin 60 is shown within the hole 61 of the detent 59 in Figure 10; and it is shown in the released and operating position in Figure 11. It will be understood that the operation of the devices to be hereinafter described is determined from the release of the pin 60 by the detent 59, and the actuation of the pin 57 as determined by the diaphragm 56.

The detent 59 as shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15 has associated therewith a contact point 65 adapted to cooperate with a similar contact 66 carried by a weight 67 which is pivoted on an insulated bolt 68 in the housing 50. The gap between the contacts 65, 66 may be adjusted by the insulating set screw 69. A conducting wire 70 leads from the detent 59 to the battery 71 and thence by a conductor 72 to the alarm bell 73, and by conductor 74 to the insulated bolt 68, and thus to the other contact 66. When the diaphragm moves the detent upward in Figure 15, the contacts 65, 66 are closed, and the alarm 73 is sounded as indicated in Figure 14.

Slidably mounted in the housing 50 is the cam member 75, having lugs 76, 76 passing through slots 77 in the interior wall 78 of the housing 50 to limit the movement of sliding member 75. The upper face of this cam member has a notch 80 therein to receive the projection 64 on the lower face of the crank lever 62. When the projection 64 is within the notch 80, the sliding member 75 is held against movement.

Rotatably mounted in the upper wall of the box 1 are two shafts 81 and 82 (Figs. 10 and 11) in axial alinement. These shafts are preferably mounted within the housing 83 forming a portion of the upper part of the box 1 by means of suitable bearings 84 and the intermediate stirrup bearings 85% 85", 85C, formed in the E-shaped member 86. The dog 8 is loose on the shaft 8l, and the dog 9 is loose on the shaft 82. The sleeves 121 and 87 are keyed to the shaft 81, the former engages a pin 122 on the dog 8 and the latter has an upstanding staff 88 mounted thereon. A helical torsion spring 89 is wrapped about the portion of the shaft 8l and has its respective ends received in the bearing plate 85a and in an aperture of the sleeve 87. `This torsion spring 89 tends constantly to move the staff 88 in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 16. from the position shown in full to the position shown in dotted lines.

The staff 88 carries at its upper end a flag fri 'adjacent end ofthe shaft 8l.

cam 90 .in frictional Contact with the cam surface 79 ofthe sliding member 75. The spring 89 therefore constantly tends to move the sliding member `to the right in Figure 10 by the cooperation of -the'cam surfaces of 90 and 79, but is 'prevented therefrom by the presence 'of therein 60 in the hole -61 of the fdetent member 59 as shown in Figure 10.

Keyed to the shaft 82 is a sleeve 91 having its end extending over and embracing 'the A torsion spring 92 ismounted around the shaft 81 and has its ends held by the vsecond bearing plate 85h and the aperture in the sleeve 91. A segmental peripheral slot is formed in the portion vvof the sleeve 91 which surrounds the end lof the shaft 81as shown in cross section in Figure 12, atf93. A pin 94 is secured in the shaft 81 and is adapted` to move withiii the -saidslot 93.

A rider 95 extends downward through the -wall `of the housing 83 into the path of the left-hand door 2. .This rider 95 is adapted to bemoved upward under the impactof the door when the latter reaches substantially its` closed position. rlhe rider 95 is formed with` a Ilug :'96 thereon, to slidably receive a pin 97. The-rider 95'is guided upon the shaft 82' and by the passage of the pin 97 through the holes in the E-shaped member 86, the `housing 83and the housing 50 for rectilinear movement at right angles to the shaft 82. A hole 98 is provided in the sleeve 91 at suchar position as to receive the pin 97 when the .dog 9 engages and retains the door o. A spring' 99 is provided to assure the engagen'ient the pin 97 in the hole 98 so long as the door 2 is vnot in contact with the rider 95. Likewise-mounted over `the shaft 82 and projectin g downward through an aperture in the housing 83 is a cam 101 which is adapted to be -moved upward upon impact with the right-hand door 3, when the latter approaches its closed position. This cam 101 is pivotally mountedlat 102 on the end of a lever 103 which is pivoted at 104 in the housing83. The other end 105 of this lever 103 extends upward through an aperture 100 into the housing 50, and carries at its upper end a roller 107 mounted on a pivot bolt 108, in operative position relative to the inclined cam surface 109 formed on the right-hand end of the sliding member 75. It will be seen into. the .notch and locks the sliding member against 4return movement. During this movement of the lever 62, the pin 60 strikes igainst the obliquely bent end 592L of the deent 59 and forces the detent outward until he pin 60 snaps into the hole 61 in the deent member 59.

r1"he method of operation of this mechanism, after the detent 59 has released the pin 00, is as follows: The crank lever 62 rocks count(ir-clockwise in Figure 10 about its vpivot (33 into the position shown in Figure 11. 'l`hc flag cam 90, under the influence of the -t'wsion spring' 89 is rocked into the dotted ne position own in Figure 16, and during s movement, bears against the cam 79 and thus forces the slid o g member 75 toward the t and into the position shown in Figure 11. Since the staif 88, the sleeve 87, the shaft 81 and the Adog 8 are operatively secured together, the dog 8 is lifted outof the .notch 10 in the top edge of the door2, and into the position shown in full lines in Figure 9. The door 2 is therefore released, and is closed by the action of its hinge springs 6, 6. As this 'door reaches the end of its travel and is nearsponding socket 10 in the upper edge of the right-hand ydoor 8, and the door 3 is closed by the action of its hinge springs 7, 7. As ans door reaches the end of its travel, it strikes againsttlie cam 101 and rocks the lever 108, and by the action of theroller 107 and the cam 109, restores the sliding member 75 to its original left-hand position against the action of the torsion spring 89, and the Imembe 75 is then locked in such position by the entry of the pin 60 into thehole 61 as already described. ln this movement of the sliding member 75, the cam surface 79 rides against the flag cam 88 and forces the latter to rotate along with the shaft 81 connected therewith; this shaft 81 is thereafter held against movement by the engagement of projection 64 in the notch 80. During this movemei of shaft 81, the pin 94 is moved with 1t, and the shaft 82 with its adjoined members :cturned to the original position against *i action of spring 92 until the pin 97 is forced downward by spring 99 linto the hole 98 then presented beneath it. When the doers are opened again. the door 3 is necessarily opened first, and then the door 2. The dog 9 swingsupwardly against the action-of pring 92, until it can slip downward into he corresponding socket 10 in the top of door l the hole 98 being made oblong peripherally of the sleeve 91 to permit this movement. T he shaft 81 has already been locked against movement by the presence of the projection 64 in the notch 80, but the dog 8 is permitted to rock upward a sutiicient distance to permit it to again engage in the notch 10, by means of they cut-away sector 12() in the sleeve 121 rigidly attached to the shaft 81 as heretofore referred to, and the small pin 122 on the dog itself. The whole mechanism has now been restored to the initial position.

In order to actuate the mechanism and to close the safe in the event of a general fire or burglar alarm being sounded in the building, an electro-magnet 123 is mounted within the housing and in operative relation to the detent 59. This detent is formed of steel or iron and upon the energization of electromagnet 123, is retracted into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 15, and the sequence is the same as before. For the purpose of illustration, there is shown in Figure 11 a pair of conductors 124 forming part of a fire alarm system, with the fusible or frangible circuit-closing element 125 and the battery 126. It will be understood that upon the occurrence of a contiagration in the building, the element 125 will close the circuit, and permit the battery 126 to energize the electro-magnet 123. This circuit may also be closed by any general fire alarm device which has here been represented as a push-button 125'.

As already described, the respective doors 2 and 3, upon closing, are immediately locked by the projection of their locking bolts 20, 20 and 20, 20, 20", immediately following the contact of the operating rod 27 or 27, respectively, on the walls of the box 1. In case of a general contlagration in which the building is gutted, the safe is locked and the doors will not be burst open by a fall following the collapse of a floor.

Although a preferred form of embodiment of the invention has been described in detail in the present specification, it will be understood that the invention is by no means limited thereto, nor to safes alone (for it may be used with vault doors), but that any modifications or changes of elements or application may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims:

v1. In a safe having double doors, means to hold each of said doors in the open position, means to release and close the left-hand door, means actuated upon the closure of said left-hand door to release and close the right-hand door, and means actuated upon closing of the right-hand door to restore said door holding means to its original position.

2. In a safe having double doors, means to retain each door in the open position, means to close each door upon its release by said retaining means, said means for one door only being actuated upon the closure of the other door, and means actuated upon closing of said one door to restore said door holding means to its original position.

3. In a safe having double doors, means to close each of said doors, a pair of shafts, a

dog mounted for movement with each shaft and each adapted to normally retain a door in the open position, a sprlng tending to move each of said dogs to release its res ective door, a stop to hold each of said ogs against such movement, means to release one of said stops and close one of the doors, and a rider actuated upon the closing of said door to release the other of said dogs.

4. In a safe having double doors, a dog to hold each of said doors in thc open position, a shaft carrying each of said dogs, said shafts being in axial alinement, a spring to rotate each of said shafts to release said dogs, a stop to hold each of said shafts against movement. and means to release each of said stops.

5. In a safe having double doors, a dog to hold each of said doors in the open position. a shaft carrying each of said dogs, said shafts being in axial alinement, a spring to rotate each of said shafts to release said dogs, a stop to hold each of said shafts against movement, means to release each of said stops, and a uni-directional driving connection between said shafts.

6. In a safe having a door, a shaft, a dog v pivoted about said shaft and adapted in normal position to hold said door open, a permissive driving connection between said shaft and said dog, means to rotate said shaft and lift said dog, and means to lock said shaft against rotation whereby said permissive connection allows said dog to move independently of said shaft when the door is opened and solidly with said shaft when the latter is actuated.

7. In a safe, a door normall held in open position, means to close said oor, a detent, means to release said detent, means to move said detent upon release, a first cam, a second cam operative with the first cam, means to actuate said cams upon movement of said detent, and means associated with said second cam to release said door upon actuation of said cam.

8. In a safe, a door normally held in open position, means to close said door, a detent, means to release said detent, means to move said detent upon release, means actuated upon the movement of said detent to release said door, and means actuated upon the closing of said door to restore the detent to its original position.

9. In a safe, a door normally held in open position, means to close said door, a detent, means to release said detent, means to move said detent upon release, a irst cam, a second cam operative with the first cam, means to actuate said cams upon movement of said detent, means associated with said second cam to release Said door upon actuation of said com, and means actuated-,upon the Closing ot said door to restore said detent and cams to Ltheir original positions.

l0. ln a suie haring double doors lto Close in sequence, means tendt f .said doors individually, ineens for no -liolding the doors in open posiion actuated n'iezins7 normally for individielly disengeg Y meen from ezteli door, meer 1 spring actuated moons of tl fior door releasing operi tios erated by the Closing of sii the spring actuated me door for operation, wi ineens for seid second-rn 5 tending to close said doors means `to hold eaoli door in onen leit hond door lo permit seid d sind spring actuated means, no in restreint and relensed 'for ope the closure of the lei't lnlnd d and Close the rig-lit hond door.

in a safe lim/ing double doors, ineens tending Vto close seid doors in dividnally, hold ing members for securing the doors in o position, means to release the left hand door 'to permit the Closing of seid (loon, s actuated by the left hand door upon @lo spring actuated means, normrll)v held in rf sti-aint and released by operation or er, for releasing` the right liiind door, mit said ri it-limid doo so close. e having ouille ding' to close eaeli oie said i nits i (1l/O' 'efl viii 1 mieli shaft in restrain@ n'ieons of the slniiits for movement zo less :ind clos ni; or" one of 1li rider actuated upon Closing release the other sln'ft to po' door to close.

tliermostotie means oder,

' o liest lo conse one rst door to cz use the elosne i. und menno o iersted on 'die f. f, .seid seeond door to restore said cli, i m 'to the orginal iosilion ior second door l5. The combination n e.. :.ipted to Cu use the elof' C s `l or one oi solo ooorsn e. nl

the closure of said tlie closure of the seeond door7 the opening; of said doors being adapted to autonniieslly restore tlie door mechanism into Condition 'r'or o second door closing ogere'lion.

safe lie-Jing double doors oon- Closed sequence, meen entoning each door es it is moved into Y on, means for holding to@ doors position, means for sold mean and ineens operable upon iolding; meals lor closing' double doors C031 eens zinlo- `floors in open x. double doors Conosed in sequence, means 1g' euch door individually os o closed po,

means for releasino the lioldi'oo means ol' the r to lieI CloserF nrst, ineens operable as smid door is Closed and locked for releasing the other door. means for Closing said doors when releztsec, nd means for restoring)` each of said holding; m ons to its original position enig; the doors open.

door open, means for sand member to disenunid operating means, and mesi s fr controlling the sliding;v movement of said slide nember to Control the opoi' Y -mentioned member :im

. ln a aging end holding' seid door open, operating means for normally disengsging seid member from the door a second member for preventing operation of said operating means in one position and adapted for operation thereby into another position, and ai detent for controlling operation of said second member by said operating means.

22. In a safe having a door normally actuated to closed position, a member for engaging and holding said door open, operating means for normally disengaging said member from the door, a second member for preventing operation of said operating means in one position and adapted for oper ation thereby into another position, a detent for controlling operation of said second member by said operating means, and means for retaining the detent in position to hold said second member against operation by said operating means, and adapted to control the release and operation thereof.

23. In a safe having a door normally actuated to closed position, a member for engaging and holding said door open, operating means for normally disengaging said member from the door, a second member for preventing operation of said operating means in one position and adapted for operation thereby into another position, means for retaining said second member in the first mentioned position, and means for operating said second member in the second mentioned position to restore it to the first mentioned position and for resetting said operating means.

24. In a safe having doors normally actuated to closed position, a member for engaging and holding each door open, operating means for normally disengaging each member from its respective door, a. second member for preventing operation of the operating means for one of the first mentioned members in one position and adapted for operation thereby into another position, means for preventing operation of the others of said first mentioned members by their respective operating means, means for controlling the operation and movement of the second member adapted to control the release of one door, and means for operating the means normally preventing actuation of the others of said members subsequent and successively with respect to the operation of said second member whereby said doors will be closed in sequence.

25. In a safe having a pair of doors normally actuated to closed position, a member for engaging and holding each door open, operating means for normally disengaging said members from said doors, a second member for preventing operation of said operatfor engaging and holding each door open, operating means for normally disengaging said members from said doors, a second member for preventing operation of said operating means in one position and adapted for operation thereby into another position, means for controlling operation of said second member, means for controlling operation of said door engaging and holding members so that said doors will be released and permitted to close in sequence, and means for operating said second member upon the closing of said doors into the first mentioned p0- sition and for setting said door holding members in position to engage and retain said doors in open position upon the subsequent opening thereof.

Signed at Marietta, Ohio, this 2nd day of March, 1925.

CARL F. WOLTERS. CHARLES SHULTE.

x 145K.; 'Aw 

